WSP in the UK & Ireland
Associate - Engagement & Consultation

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Description
A little more about your role…
You’ll be joining WSP’s expanding UK wide Engagement and Consultation team of 75 plus as an experienced leader, where you’ll play a meaningful role in shaping how major projects connect with communities. Working on some of the UK’s largest infrastructure programmes—as well as projects across the water, health, energy and environmental sectors—you’ll help deliver engagement that is thoughtful, impactful and built on best practice.
Recent contract and framework wins across the water, transport, energy and environmental sectors underpin strong growth over the next three years, with clients including National Grid, East West Rail Co, Nuclear Waste Services, the Environment Agency and others.
As a member of the Engagement and Consultation Team within our Planning and Consents business, you will assist in leading engagement delivery across major UK infrastructure projects, shape regional delivery models, lead distributed teams, build strategic client relationships, and drive excellence and innovation in engagement practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Managing and enabling your team to successfully deliver engagement and consultation activities across a range of multidisciplinary projects
- Having commercial responsibility for tender production and business development opportunities
- Identifying opportunities to embed global communications and engagement best practice
- Advising project teams and clients on stakeholder and community strategies for multi-disciplinary projects
- Developing and implementing the competency focussed training programme for the team
- Planning and delivering stakeholder communication and consultations, including managing risks and issues, organising and managing public information events, and managing outputs to achieve engagement and consultation objectives.
- Project managing schemes including resourcing, budget management and ensuring delivery to programme.
- Delivering projects including resources, budgets and risk, in order to ensure projects are delivered on time and to budget.
- Collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver projects.
- Acting as a people manager for engagement specialists.
Preferred Qualifications / Education
- Demonstrated experience in leading the DCO engagement process across large multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.
- At least degree-qualified or equivalent
- Membership of relevant professional or trade body is desirable.
- Experience in the road, rail, utilities, water, environment or energy sectors.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Preferred Competencies
- Strong team player who has an enthusiastic and motivated attitude
- Proven line management experience including delivery of training initiatives
- Proven experience of effectively managing and building stakeholder relationships in complex environments.
- Effective decision-maker with ability to act on own initiative
- Persuasive influencer with ability to strike rapport and exert strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
- Well ordered, structured approach to delivery of tasks, and flexible with ability to adapt within demanding and fast-changing environment.
- Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills to manage a varied workload.
The Consultancy Hierarchy Structure
Assistant Consultant → Consultant → Senior Consultant → Principal Consultant → Associate → Associate Director → Technical Director → Director
Find Out More About Our Engagement And Consultation Team
To learn more about the work we do and the impact you could make, visit our Engagement and Consultation business page and explore what a career at WSP could offer you:
Stakeholder engagement and strategic communications | WSP
Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.
Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself?
With us, you can. Apply today.
About Us
We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Work-life balance
At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.
Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Inclusivity & Belonging
We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.
Health & Wellbeing
We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.
Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
Flex your time
To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.
We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
Your development
We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.
#WeAreWSP
Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills